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COMMEMORATION 



—OF- 

Lancaster County in the Revolution 

AT “ INDIAN ROCK,” WILLIAMSON PARK, NEAR “ ROCKFORD,” 
THE HOME OF GENERAL EDWARD HAND, M. D. 
FRIDAY, P. M., SEPTEMBER 20, CMMXII 



BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD HAND, M. D. 


Born December 31, 1744 


Died September 3, 1802 



Mount Vernon. Jany. 14th, 1784. 

“ Dear SirWhen I left Philadelphia I hoped to have had the pleasure of seeing you at Anhapolis before my departure from 
thence, and to have had an opportunity previous to my resignation of expressing to you personally, amongst the last acts of my 
Official life my entire approbation of your public conduct, particularly in the execution of the important duties of Adjutant General. 

“ Notwithstanding I have been disappointed in that expectation, and have it now in my povver only as a private character to 
make known mv sentiments and feelings respecting my military friends, yet I cannot decline making use of the first occasion after 
my retirement of informing you, my dear Sir, how much reason I have had to be satisfied with the great zeal, attention, and ability 
manifested by you in conducting the business of your Department, and how happy I should be for an opportunity of demonstrating 
my sincere regard and esteem for you. It is unnecessary, I hope, to add with what pleasure I should see you at this place, being with 
great truth, “ My dear Sir, 

“ Yr real friend & 

“ Most Obed Servt 

“ Go. Washington. 


1 'he Honble 

“Genl. Hand. 















































GENERAL EDWARD HAND, M. D. 

PHYSICIAN :: SOLDIER :: STATESMAN :: CITIZEN 

he once stood, to-day we gladly stand, 

:e him, we view the gracious landscape o’er, 
d, calling up “ the days that are no more,” 
We think upon the men who served our land, 

A noble, brave and patriotic band. 

O Conestoga ! stream of ancient lore, 

We would thy memories of old restore 
And carve in stone the name of Edward Hand ! 

Our country claims him as her patriot son— 

The friend, the counsellor of Washington ! 

All fresh and verdant, bright and undecayed 
The laurels he has won shall never fade. 

And, clearly written on the rolls of Fame, 

A hero’s meed shall ever crown his name. 

MARY N. ROBINSON. 




‘7'h/u.. Sz 






75, ry* • Z. - J.Z - £ '/ 




GENEALOGY 

-OF 

THE HAND FAMILY 

as 

i. 

Edward Hand, son of John and Dorothy Hand, was born December 31, 1744, O. S., at Cly- 
druff, in Kings County, Province of Leinster, Ireland, and died at his farm, “Rockford,” on the 
Conestoga, near Lancaster, Pa., on Friday, September 3, 1802. 

Katharine Ewing, daughter of John and Sarah Ewing, was born in Philadelphia on March 
25, 1 75 1 ! married to Edward Hand, at Lancaster, March 13, 1775; died at Rockford June 21, 
1805. Their children were: 


II 

(1) Sarah Hand, daughter of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born at Lancaster, De¬ 
cember 8, 1775; married to Samuel Bethel, at Rockford, June 15, 1803. They had no issue. 

(2) Dorothy Hand, daughter of Edward and Katharine Hand, . was born at Lancaster, 
November 26, 1777; married to Edward Brien, of Martic Iron Works, September 17, 1805; 
died August 21, 1862. 

(3) Katharine Hand, daughter of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born in Lancaster, 
December 14, 1779; died April 14, 1791. at Lancaster 

(4) John, son of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born on Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 
March 2, 1782; died suddenly at Rockford November 13, 1807. 

( 5 ) Jasper, son of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born at Lancaster, February 20, 
1784; died suddenly at Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, February 19, 1828. [He left six 
children: Dr. Edward, John, Katharine, Sarah, Margaret and Mary. 

(6) Mary, daughter of Edward and Katharine Hand, born at Lancaster May 4, 1786; 
died unmarried, at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1880. 

(7) Margaret, daughter of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born at Lancaster, May 14, 
1789; died at Rockford, October 27, 1800. 

(8) Edward, son of Edward and Katharine Hand, was born at Lancaster, January 19. 
1792; died at Havana, where he was super cargo. 


III-A. 

Dorothy (second child of the Hands) married Edward Brien, Esq., who was the third son 
of Henry and Rebecca Brien, of Gargadis, in the County of Tyrone, and Kingdom of Ireland, 
born February r, 1769. Brien was the owner and operator of Martic Forge, on the Pequea. 



The date of their marriage was September 17, 1805. He died June 27, 1816. I heir children, 
all born at Martic Forge, were: 

III-Ai. Edward Hand, born November 6, 1806. died June 29, 1837. 

III-A-2. Harriet Coleman, November 14, 1808. 

III-A-3. Sarah Bethel, September 20, 1810. 

III-A-4. Henry William, March 15, 1813. 

III-A-5. Catharine Ewing, April n, 1815, died August 30, 1824. 


IV-A. 

Sarah Bethel, daughter of the Briens, was married at Martic Forge on September 20, 1810, 
to Henry Rogers, of Lancaster County, and brother to Molton C. Rogers, Secretary of State and 
Attorney General of Pennsylvania. Their children were: 

IV-A-i. Anna Russurn, born at Lancaster, March 13, 1829, widow of Edward Reilly, 
Esq., deceased, (a member of the Lancaster bar) ; now resident of Trenton, N. J. 

IV-A-2. Sarah Hand, born at Lancaster, May 19, 1830; died at Lancaster, November 28, 
1845. 

IV-A-3. Katharine Brien, born in Lancaster, October 21, 1831 ; wife of John L. Atlee, 
Jr., M D.; died in Virginia July 17, 1902. 

IV-A-4. Mary Hand, born at Lancaster, January 22, 1834; died here, November 1, 1849. 

IV-A-5. Harriet Dorothea, born at Lancaster, June 19. 1838; wife of Hon. W. W. Hop¬ 
kins ; died in Lancaster, October 29, 1883. 

1 V-A- 6 . Edmund Brien, born in Lancaster, May 8, 1841 ; died a school boy, in Lancaster. 
Aug. 4, 1856. 


V-A. 

The children of Edward Reilly and his wife, Anna Russurn Brien, were: (V-A-i) Edith, 
(V-A-2) Mary, (V-A-3) Edward. 

The latter two are deceased. Edith married Dr. John Stockton Hough, now deceased. 
Their children are Edward R., Henry S., Douglas R., John S., Robert H., Arthur S. 


V-B. 


Washington W. Hopkins, who was married to Harriet Dorothea Rogers, December 17, 
1863. was the son of James M. Hopkins, ironmaster of “Conowingo Furnace,” Drumore town¬ 
ship, and grandson of James Hopkins, the most distinguished lawyer of the Lancaster bar in his 
day. W. W. Hopkins, whose mother was Harriet L. Webb, was born June 5, 1838; member of 
the Lancaster bar; served in the Union Army, 1861-4; promoted by General Sherman to first 
lieutenant, captain, adjutant, signal officer and inspector of signal corps. He is now treasurer of 
the Tome Institute, at Port Deposit Maryland. The children of himself and first wife, all born 
in Lancaster, were: 

V-b-i. Louisa Webb Hopkins, July 10, 1865; died at Lancaster, February 16, 1873. 

V-b-2. Edward Rogers Hopkins, May 26, 1869; died in Philadelphia, January 19, 1903. 

V-b-3. Herbert Ralston Hopkins, March 1, 1871; died at Port Deposit, Maryland, October 
16, 1877. 

These three children, together with their mother, who died at Lancaster, Pa., October 29. 
1883, all lie buried in the same lot in Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Pa. 


2 


(Edward Rogers Hopkins married and left a widow and one son, Edward Rogers Hopkins, 
who resides in Philadelphia. This youth is the lineal descendant of both Edward Hand, Lan¬ 
caster’s most distinguished soldier of 1776, and George Ross, its most notable civilian, as 
Washington W. Hopkins’ grandmother was Geo. Ross’ granddaughter. 

Washington W. Hopkins re-married to Miss Mary Minster Long, February, 1886. Of their 
children, an infant son died and two daughters survive.) 

V- C. 

Dr. John Light Atlee, 2d, who married the third daughter and child of Mr. and Mrs. (Brien) 
Henry Rogers, was a great-grandson of Major John Light, of Revolutionary fame. His father, 
John L., uncle, Washington, and brother, Walter, were all distinguished physicians and sur¬ 
geons, and he himself stood high in the local medical faculty. He was born in Lancaster, June 
21,1830, and died here July 18, 1885. His mother was of the Franklin family, eminent in pro¬ 
fessional and social life here ever since Colonial times. 

The children of Katharine Brien, intermarried with John L. Atlee, Jr., were as follows: 
(V-c-i) Mary Rogers, (V-c-2) John Sayre, (V-c-3) Sarah, (V-c-4) Amy, (V-c-5) Harriet. 
(V-c-6) Dorothea, (V-c-7) Edward Brien, (V-c-8) Katharine Brien, (V-c-9) Annie Pleasant, 
(V-c-10) Ethel, (V-c-11) Mira Llovd, (V-c-12) George F. 

VI- A. 

Mary Rogers married James Rogers, and had twelve children: 

(Vl-a-i) Katharine Brien, (VI-a-2) Amy Ralston, (VI-a-3) Helen, (VI-a-4) Atlee, 
(VI-a-5) Dorothy, (VI-a-6) Edith, (VI-a-7) May, (VI-a-8) Holcomb, (VI-a-9) James Booth, 
(VI-a-10) Eleanor Russum, (VI-a-11) Edward Brien, (VI-a-12) Anna Cochran. 


VII-A. 

Helen (VI-a-3) (daughter of James and Mary Rogers Atlee Rogers) married Gillies P. 
Rodgers, and their children are: (VH-a-i) Amy Ralston, (VII-a-2) Milton Henry. 

(These children, be it noted, are of the seventh generation; and General Edward Hand 
was their great-great-great-great-grandfather. They are descended in the Hand line from Helen 
Rogers Rodgers, mother; Mary Atlee Rogers, grandmother; Katharine Brien Atlee, great-grand¬ 
mother; Sarah Bethel Brien Rogers, great-great-grandmother; Dorothy Hand Brien, great- 
great-great-grandmother ; Edward Hand, great-great-great-great-grandfather). 


3 


CHRONOLOGY 


-OF— 

Lancaster County in the Revolution with Special 
Reference to the Services of General 
Edward Hand, M. D. 


1744. Dec. 31—Edward Hand, born at Clydruff, Kings County Leinster Province, Ireland. Ap¬ 
pointed surgeon of the 1st Royal Irish Regiment of Foot by George III, 1767; sailed from 
Cork May 20, arrived in Philadelphia, July n. Commissioned ensign, 1772, and sent to Fort 
Pitt; returned to Philadelphia, 1774; resigned from British service. Came to Lancaster to 
practice medicine and surgery; there met and married Catharine Fwing (1751-1805,) 
daughter of Captain John Ewing (1727-1754), whose wife was Sarah Yeates (1731-1823), 
a sister of Judge Jasper Yeates. She died in Lancaster. 

1 754, July 4—Washington's British command surrenders Fort Necessity to the French. 1775. 
July 9—Braddock's defeat at Laurel Hill and English retreat to Fort Cumberland. Oct. 4— 
Col. James Burd, at Shippensburg, hears of Indian and French atrocities and massacre at Fort 
Cumberland. Oct. 18—Indian massacre on John Penn's creek. Oct. 29—Edward Shippen 
at Lancaster, advised by John Harris, from Harris’s Ferry, of French-Indian extermination 
of Susquehanna settlements Nov. 2—Massacre of settlers and burnings by Indians at 
Great Cove; (16th) Tulpehocken massacres; (21st) Moravians massacred at Gnadenhuet- 
ten on the Lehigh. 

1756—Lt. Col. John Armstrong marches eight companies of Third Pennsylvania Battalion from 
Ft. Shirley to the destruction of the Indian rendezvous at Kittanning. 1757—Indian- 
French dissensions; Indian forays continue. 1758—Forbes and Abercrombie plant the En¬ 
glish standard over the ashes of Ft. Duquesne; "and henceforth it shall be called Pitts¬ 
burgh.” 

1761, Jan. 15—The late French garrison of Detroit stopped at Lancaster on their way to Phila¬ 
delphia; also a number of prisoners. 1763, Aug. 4—Lancaster furnished relief to the dis- 
tresed refugees who were driven out of their homes about Carlisle by the Indians. Sept. 8— 
A party of 110 overlanders went from Lancaster to the great island on the west branch of 
the Susquehanna; battled with the Indians. 1763—Pontiac war; Forbes routes savages at 
Bushy Run. 1764—Bouquet’s expedition to Ohio; subdues and makes truce with Dela¬ 
wares and Shawnese. 


LANCASTER COUNTY OFFICERS IN FRENCH-INDIAN WARS 


James Burd, colonel. 

Joseph Shippen, lieutenant-colonel and brigade-major. 
Asher Clayton, major. 

John Phillip DeHaas, major. 

Samuel Grubb, captain. 

Samuel Atlee, “ 

John Hambright, “ 

Richard Gardner, “ 

William Johnston, “ 

John Byers, “ 

Thomas Price, “ 

Ludwick Stone, “ 

John Singleton, “ 

Caleb Gradon, “ 

Samuel Hunter, “ 

Robert Boyd, “ 

Samuel Lindsay, “ 

William Ewing, lieutenant and adjutant. 

James Ewing, 

Henry Geiger, lieutenant. 

David McClay, “ 

Frederick Van Hambach, lieutenant. 

Rev. Thomas Barton, chaplain. 

Rev. Alexander McDowell, “ 


Rev. Charles Beatty, chaplain 
Rev. John Steel, 

Rev. Hector Allison, 

William Reynolds, lieutenant. 
Alexander McKee, 

Henry Haller, 

Adam Boyd, 

Samuel Scott, “ 

John Foster, 

William McClay, 

James Barnbridge. 

John Conrad Bucher, “ 

Robert Lowry, ensign. 

John Brisbane, “ 

Blatchford Duffield, ensign. 

Richard Hudson. 

Memucan Hughes, 

.Tames Dorough, 

Martin Heidler, 

Evan Shelby, 

.Tames Young, paymaster. 

Peter Bard, commisary of stores. 
James Read, judge advocate. 


4 





i/6 3, Dec. 27—Massacre of the Conestoga Indians, at noon, by Paxton Rangers, in the yard of 
the Lancaster County jail, near the present site of Fulton Hall. Edward Shippen, chief 
burgess, and other leading citizens in church at deferred Christmas services. 

1765, Aug—Account reached Lancaster that Lieut Frazier was “cut off” by a body of Indians 
under the command of Pontiac. Nov. 6—Stamp act in effect Lancaster County ignored it 
and held its Courts of Quarter Sessions and public operations as usual, without purchas¬ 
ing stamps. 

1766, Feb. 6—Lancaster County Courts again held in defiahce of the Stamp Act. 1768. May 5— 
Lancaster citizens eulogize “The Farmers’ Letters.” 1769—Lancaster members of the 
committee of grievances, consisted of Ross, Jacobs, Jacob Carpenter, Thos. Minshall, 
George Ross, member of the Assembly defends against the report that he was in favor of 
taxing stills out of existence. His brother members of the Assembly defend his record in 
a signed publication. 

T 77 °' June 19—Lancaster County’s meeting on grievances against Great Britain and their pro- 
nunciamento, signed by a committee, by order of the inhabitants, Ross Boyd. Yates, Lauman 
Henry. This is addressed to a committee of Philadelphia merchants, dated July 21, sug¬ 
gests methods of making non-importation effectual. 

177 2 —Emanuel Carpenter begs to be relieved from serving in Assembly, as he has done for 
several years past, but the people ignored his request and continued to elect him. 

Sept. 9—-Address by the Burgesses and their assistants of the Borough of Lancaster, compli¬ 
mentary to Carpenter and Ross, for their patriotic services during many past years. 

1773. June —Eulogistic press notices on the death of Anne Ross, wife of George Ross. 

1774, March—Parliament passes “Boston Port” Act June 15—Meeting in Lancaster Court 
House to express popular indignation; call promulgated by William Atlee. Patriotic re¬ 
solves unanimously adopted and forwarded to Philadelphia committee of correspondence; 
participants pledge themselves to abstain from use or sale of taxed tea. 

June 28—Lancaster committee called to Philadelphia conference. July 9—George Ross pre¬ 
sides over Court House meeting, which declares loyalty to the Crown, but resistance to Par¬ 
liamentary oppression and sympathy with Boston movement. About $200 raised and for¬ 
warded to Boston by committee, Edward Shippen chairman. 

July 15—George Ross, James Webb, Matthias Slough, Joseph Feree, Emanuel Carpenter, Will¬ 
iam Atlee, Alex. Lowery and Moses Irwin, Lancaster County deputies, attend Pennsyl¬ 
vania convention in Philadelphia and join in call for a Colonial Congress. 

1774, Aug. ir.—Call for punishment of Josiah and Robert Lockhart, Lancaster dealers, for 

selling tax paid tea—satisfactorily explained, it was a lot seized and sold as smuggled imports. 
Sept. 4 Oct. 25.—Continental Congress, Carpenter Hall, Philadelphia. 

Dec. 15.—Lancaster County Committee of Observation elected. From within present borders 

of County, those elected were : 

Lancaster borough.—Edward Shippen, George Ross, James Webb, Adam S. Kuhn, Jasper Yeates. Wil¬ 
liam Atlee, Adam Reigart, William Bausman, Christian Voght, Eberhardt Michael, Charles Hall, 
Casper Shaffner. 

Conestoga township.—Martin Bare. 

Manor township.—John Killhafer, Jacob Wistler, James Jacks. 

Hempfield township.—Val. Breneman. 

Manheim township.—Samuel Bear, Sebastian Graff. 

Mount Joy township.—James Cunningham, Abraham Frederick. 

Rapho township.—Jacob Erisman, Patrick Hay. 

Donegal township.—Bartram Galbraith, Alexander Lowry, Frederick Mummart. 

Warwick township.—Jacob Erb, Peter Grubb. 

Elizabeth township.—Hans Frantz. 

Earl township.—Alexander Martin, Emanuel Carpenter, Anthony Ellmaker, William Smith, Zaccheus 
Davis, George Rein, John Brubaker. 

Cocalico township.—John Jones. 

Brecknock township.—Benjamin Lessley. 

Caernarvon township.—David Jenkins. 

Salisbury township.—James Clemson, John Whitehill. 

Leacock township.—David Watson, Nathaniel Lightner. 

Strasburg township.—Eberhart Gruber, Michael Witer. 

Lampeter township.—John Witmer, Jr. 

Sadsbury township.—Robert Bailey. 

Little Britain township.—John Allton, Thomas Whitesides. 

Drumore township.—Thomas Porter, William McEntire. 

Bart township.—Jacob Bare, Hieronymus Hickman. 

Colerain township.—Joshua Anderson. 

Martic township.—John Snodgrass. 


5 


1 775 ' J an - 4—Committee met at Lancaster County Court House, Edward Shippen, chairman. 
Deputies chosen to General Provincal Convention: 

Adam Simon Kuhn, James Burd, James Clemson, Peter Grubb, Sebastian Graff, David 
Jenkins, Bartram Galbraith. 

Mar. 30—Charles Hamilton, shopkeeper, complained against for selling tea “contrary to the 
association of the Continental Congress.” He disapproved of his clerk’s mistake in his absence 
and was exculpated. 

April 25—News of the Lexington fight reached Lancaster; committee meeting April 27 at 
Adam Reigart’s, and Edward Shippen, chairman, issued call for County meeting May 1. 

May 1—County freemen held three days’ session; pledged their lives and fortunes to the 
cause of all the Colonies; merchants and shopkeepers offered stores of lead and powder. 

Associators’ companies organized throughout the County by Captains Jacob Cook (Don¬ 
egal), George Hudson, Casper Stoever (Cocalico), George Null, Henry Shaeffer, William Paine, 
Philip Weiser, Michael Holderbaum, Leonard Immel, Valentine Shoufifler, Daniel Oldenbruck. 

Nine companies organize Col. Ph. Greenawalt’s battalion. 

Major John Light, native of New York, but later long time resident of Lancaster, and 
grandfather of Dr. John L. Atlee, 1st, served as a minute man on Long Island ; marched to Cana¬ 
da, returned to Ticonderoga, was with Washington through the Jersey campaigns, and at the 
Yorktown surrender. 

July 11—Lancaster County raised two companies of “expert riflemen.” Lt. Col. Edw. Hand 
(commissioned June 25), Lt. David Ziegler, Adjutant, and Fr. Hubley, of Lancaster, associated 
in command of Col. Thompson’s battalion of riflemen. 

Capts. James Ross and Matthew Smith recruited Lancaster County companies. Lieut. 
Archibald Steele, of Drumore; James Wilkinson (later Brig. Gen); John Joseph Henry (later 
historian of the Quebec expedition and Judge), join the riflemen. 

July—Thacher’s “Military Journal” described Hand’s Lancaster County soldiers, moving 
from the Hudson to Boston, as remarkable marksman, dressed in white frocks, rifle shirts and 
round hats and doing deadly execution to the British. 

Judge Henry’s narrative says they carried rifle-barreled guns, tomahawks, scalping 
knives and wore ash-colored hunting shirts, leggings and moccasins. 

Aug. 27—Wm. Simpson, of Captain Smith’s Lancaster company, died from wounds, the first 
Pennsylvania soldier who fell in the Revolutionary war. 

Sept. 10—Captain Smith’s company marched with Arnold to Quebec. Henry followed them, 
without leave, yielding to “his rambling desire”—says Hand. 

Sept. 18—Archibald Steele, John J. Henry, Thomas Boyd, John Tidd, John McConkey, all 
Lancaster countians, especially detailed to ascertain Indian trails and pilot the way to Quebec. 

October. First British prisoners brought to Lancaster, followed in December by others 
taken by Montgomery in Canada (among them John Andre, kept for a time at the Cope house— 
now rebuilt, as Mrs. J. E. Baker’s, Grant and North Lime Streets). Many of them subse¬ 
quently taken to Lebanon, York and Carlisle. 

Oct. 27—Officers of First Pennsylvania Battalion commissioned. Among them Col. John 
Philip DeHaas, of Lancaster (now Lebanon) County; Surgeon Robert Boyd and Lieut. Adam 
Hubley, Jr. 

Nov. 13—Arnold’s forces reached Levis, opposite Quebec. 65 of Smith’s Lancaster Com¬ 
pany reached Plains of Abraham, and Capt. Smith’s reports glorfy his own achievements. John 
Joseph Henry discredits Smith’s claims to valor and criticises him as a bombastic skulker and 
braggart. 

Nov. 9—Hand’s regiment “had fun” at Prospect Hill, Mass.; they drove the British off in 
their boats. Alex. Creighton mortally wounded by a swivel ball. Wm. Hamilton’s son distin¬ 
guished himself by coolness and resolution; Billy Burd "had his eyes closed by the dirt knocked 
off by a cannon ball.” Later Ross’s Lancaster Company became insubordinate and mutinous; 
many court-martialed and fined. Washington irritated at Ross’s absence without leave. 


6 


Dec. 9—Second Pennsylvania Battalion includes company of Capt. John Brisban, of Leacock 
(who had seen service in the French-Indian wars) George Ross, adjutant. Saw service in New 
^ ork, on Lake Champlain, in Canada; fought at Three Rivers, Canada, June 8, 1776; left Fort 
Liconderoga January 24, 1777, and many re-enlisted in Third Pennsylvania; Brisban died March 
13, 1822, aged 91; founded and named Bird-in-Hand, from the old tavern near Valley Forge. 

I 776, Jan. 1—Continentals stormed Quebec; Montgomery killed; Arnold lost a leg; Lt. 
Arch. Steele lost three fingers; Sgt. Robert Dixon, of Smith’s company, killed; also Privates 
James Angelo, Alex. Elliott, Henry Miller and John Harris, son of Harrisburg’s founder; sur¬ 
vivors surrendered, held captives until Aug. 7; re-entered service with Wayne’s Pennsylvania 
Line ; took part in the night attack on Sharon, Ga. Hand made Lieutenant Col. 1st Continental 
Infantry. 

Jan. 19—DeHaas’s First Battalion rendezvoused at Philadelphia; ordered to join Gates, in¬ 
vading Canada; two companies met Arnold at Trois Rivieres; entire regiment retiring assembled 
at Ticonderoga. 

Feb. 2—Col. Thompson and Major Magaw return to Lancaster, leaving Hand in command of 
the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion of Riflemen. They adopted their colors a deep green standard 
with a tiger in toils, stopped by an armed hunter’s spear, with the legend "Domari Nolo.” 

March 13—Hand's command ordered to New York wtih Sullivan’s. April 5. Hand, now 
colonel, ordered to L. I. by Putnam, and remained at Utrecht until July. 

June ir—Third Pennsylvania Battalion commanded by Col. John Shee, of Lancaster; also 
Joseph Hubley, a captain; and Jacob Weaver, ensign, ordered to N. Y. to Gen. Mifflin. Captured 
af Ft. Washington and held as prisoners of war by the British for two years. 

July 1—Hand’s riflemen re-enlisted and became First Pennsylvania Regiment of Continen¬ 
tal Line. 

July 4—Independence Day. “Flying Camp” of 13.800 militia, ordered from Middle States 
by Congress to re-inforce N. Y. Delegates of officers and men from 53 battalions meet in Lan¬ 
caster to select Brigadiers General. The delegates present representing the Lancaster County 
Battalions were: 

1. Col George Ross, Lieut.-Col. Adam Reigart, Christ, Wirtz, Francis Baily. 

2. Col. Curtis Grubb, Maj. Philip Marstaller, James Sullivan, Lodwick Ziering. 

3. Lieut-Col. Robert Thompson, Maj. Thomas Smith, John Smith, Isaac Erwin. 

4. Capt. Joseph Sherer, Capt. James Murray, Abraham Darr, William Leard. 

5. Col. James Crawford, Capt. James Mercer, Henry Slaymaker, John Whitehill. 

6. Lieut.-Col.Alexander Lowry, Maj. James Cunningham, John Bealy, John Jameson. 

7. Col M. Slough, Lieut-Col. Leonard Raudfang, Christian Bough. Simon Snider. 

8. Col. Peter Grubb, Capt. Henry Weaver, William Smith, George Ury. 

9. Lieut-Col. Christian Wegman, Maj. Michael Till, Michael Diffenbaugh, Anthony Deb- 
ler. 

10. Col. John Ferree, Lieut.-Col Peter Heddricks, William Barnet, George Little. 

Col. George Ross was chosen president of the meeting, and Col. David Clymer, secre¬ 
tary. Col. Mark Bird, Col. George Ross, and Capt. Sharp Dulaney were appointed judges of the 
election. Daniel Roberdeau and James Ewing were elected brigadiers. 

July 8—Dr. Samuel Kuhn, army surgeon, (son of Dr. Adam Simon Kuhn,) of Lancaster, 
appointed by the Council of Safety to be Director General of the hospital for the N. J. pro¬ 
vincial troops. 

Pa. troops of the “Flying Camp”, ordered into Upper and Eastern New Jersey. Capt. 
Matthias Slough’s Lancaster Battalion among the first to respond; engaged in battle of Long Is¬ 
land ; later guarded British prisoners in Lancaster and Lebanon. 

Capt. Jac. Klotz, of Lancaster, also of the “Flying Camp”, Capts. Peter Hoofnagle and 
Andrew Graff in Col. Ross’s Lancaster County Battalion. 

Other Lancaster County commanders of local battalions were Cols. Bartram Galbraith, 
James Crawford, Thomas Porter, John Feree, Peter Grubb, James Burd, Timothy Green; Capts. 
Paul Zantzinger, Joshua Evans, Col. Atlee’s musketry battalion and Col Samuel Miles’ riflemen 
joined the command of Gen. Hugh Mercer, (killed at Princeton Jan. 3, 1777). Capt. Thos. Her¬ 
bert’s company was raised in Leacock and Salisbury, and Capt. Abram DeHuff’s in other parts 
of the county. These commands suffered severely in the battle of Long Island and had to be 
consolidated. The soldiers complained bitterly of “bad usage” by the Military Department of 
the Colonial Cause. 


/ 



1776 (At miscellaneous dates). Matthias Slough appointed general agent for Pennsylvania 
to secure clothing and equipment for State troops in the Revolutionary army. Leading hotel 
proprietor; public spirited citizen and patriotic soldier; prominent in social circles. His father 
built the old Swan Hotel, southeast angle of Centre Square. John GraefF built the old Sho- 
be Hotel; and Wm. Bailsman the Jeffries House on E. King Street, east of the County House. 

Of Arthur Patterson's four sons in the Donegal region, three served in the Revolution¬ 
ary war. and William died on a prison war-ship. 

General Andrew Porter, of the Drumore Porters, ivas one of the valiant sons of Lan¬ 
caster County on the Colonial side in the war for Independence. 

A Lancaster County company in the “German Regiment” was commanded successively 
by Capts. George and Bernard Hubley. It fought at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Mon¬ 
mouth. and took part in the Sullivan expedition. 

Capt. Jac. E. Weaver raised an independent company in Lancaster County to guard 
British prisoners; and afterwards joined the Tenth Pennsylvania of the Continental Line-—in 
which were Capts. Jac. Stape, Thos. Herbert and John Steele as well as Lt. Col. Adam Hubley. 
Jr., all of Lancaster County. They were engaged at Princeton, Bound Brook. Brandywine, Ger¬ 
mantown, Paoli and elsewhere. 

Stephen Chambers, of Lancaster, commanded a company in the Twelfth Pennsylvania 
Continental; and Lt. Stewart Herbert recruited a Company for it in Salisbury and townships near 
by. (Chambers, who was a delegate to the Federal Convention of 1787, was wounded in a duel 
with Dr. Jac. Riegar, May 11, 1789. and died therefrom five days later, at his home in Lancaster.) 

Rev. Jas. Latta. of Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, advocated Independence from the pul¬ 
pit j accompanied the soldiers of that community to camp with knapsack and blanket and 
preached to the troops. 

Gen. John Gibson (father of Chief Justice John B. Gibson), of Lancaster, entered Colonial army 
in the war and stayed east until after the retreat through New Jersey, when he was detailed 
on the western frontier, with which he had become familiar in the Indian wars. He became 
a Judge in Allegheny County and a Major General of Militia. 

1776 , Aug. 25—Major Janies Ewing stricken with fever on L. I. (Nephew of Hand’s wife). 

1776, Aug. 27—Capt. Miller’s Lancaster Company engaged in battle of Long Island. Capt. Steele 
distinguished himself. Col. Atlee and Major Burd captured. Pland detailed to cover the 
retreat. 

Sept 4—Col. James Crawford’s and Capt. Robert Buyer's command, the Fifth Battalion of Lan¬ 
caster County, (Pequea Valley) at Bergentown camp. 

1776. Sept. 25—James Ross promoted from Captain to Major. 

1776, Nov. 16—Rev. Thos. Barton (P. E.) closes his churches because the "fury of the popu¬ 
lace" will not tolerate his prayers for the king. His son, William, ardently espoused the 
Colonial cause; Washington appointed him Territorial Judge; the local bar wanted him for 
Law Judge here; prothonotary 1803-9. 

1776, Dec. 8—DeHaas and remnant of battalion return to New Germantown, N. J., re-enlist as 
Second Pennsylvania of the Continental Line, together with Major Jas. Hamilton, of Lan¬ 
caster, later resident of Charleston, S. C. 

1776, Dec. 9—Cornwallis’ threatened descent on Philadelphia impels Councils of Safety to order 
Treasury and books removed to Lancaster, and powder and military stores toward the same 
direction. Capts Slough’s and Mercer's companies called to Philadelphia. 

Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, 1777.—After battles of Trenton and Princeton thousands of Hessian prisoners 
brought to Lancaster and Lebanon. Jan 11, John Hubley authorized to employ them at 
shoemaking. July 8. Council of Safety authorizes Lancaster County iron-masters making 
cannon or shot for public purposes to be themselves exempt from military services and to 
employ war prisoners. Oct. 13. After Burgoyne's surrender increased number of prisoners 
sent to Lancaster—at times mutinous and threatening, and guards increased. 

1 / 77 . J an - 2 —Hand's rifle corps made stand in the woods at Shabbakong creek, near Princeton, 
N. J., and in two hours greatly aided Washington's successful withdrawal, by deadly fire 
from ambush against the British. 


8 


March 7—Hand made a Brigadier General. 

March 12—Capt. Henry Miller promoted to be Major. 

May 25—Hand’s regiment moved to Mt. Prospect, N. J. 

May 26—Hessian prisoners being hired out in Lancaster for harvest hands. The committee in 
authority limited their wages at one shilling per day, “to prevent people outbidding each 
other. They were recommended to plough, thresh and make fence as well as to work at 
the hay and grain. 

June—Howe s movement upon Philadelphia excited alarm and Lancaster notified to move relief 
troops on short notice. 

June 11—Hand’s command drove the enemy from Brunswick, N. J.; he was one of the first 
officers to enter the town. Later his regiment engaged in the battles of Brandywine, Mon¬ 
mouth, Germantown, Paoli and others. Among its captains was Thos. Doude a prominent 
lumber dealer of Columbia; an Assemblyman, 1794-6, and Congressman, 1801-3. 

July 4—\\ illiam Henry, gunsmith and ironmonger, member of the Pennsylvania Committee of 
Safety and efficient supporter of the Colonial cause—given military exemption for himself 
and employees—was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He was patron and host of Ben¬ 
jamin West, David Rittenhouse, Thomas Paine and other celebrities; West's “Death of 
Socrates’, painted, and Paine’s tract No. 5, “The Crisis”, written in his house which stood 
at where No 8 East King Street now is; member of the Continental Congress, 1784-6. 

Major John Scott, of “Scott’s manor”, recruited a company of Little Britain yeomanry; 
and joined Col. James Watson’s battalion. Capt. Whiteside a lower end officer; also 
Color Bearer Clendennin. 

l 777 ' August—Howe’s naval advance up the Delaware hurried Lancaster troops toward Phila¬ 
delphia. Cols. Greenawalt, Lowery and Watson march thither; engaged at Brandywine and 
Germantown; hundreds of wounded survivors taken to Ephrata, where 150 died. 

Sept. 27—Howe occupied Philadelphia. Congress quit there 5th, and on 27th arrived in Lan¬ 
caster. 

Sept. 27—Congress held one session in Lancaster, and moved on to York. 

Oct. 1—Council of Safety met in Lancaster and held its sessions here for nine months; during 
which time Pres. Thomas Wharton, Jr..died and was buried in Trinity Lutheran grave¬ 
yard, at the “polite request” of the elders and vestry. 

Dec. 10—Gen. John Gibson wrote from Ft. Pitt to Hand that Simon Girty “the renegade” re¬ 
ports all the Western Indians taking up the tomahawk against the Americans “excepting 
White Eyes and a few Delawares.” 

Henry Slaymaker, of Paradise, a vigorous Whig magistrate during the Revolution, sup¬ 
pressed Tory insubordination; presided one year as principal justice of the County Courts. 
His brother, John, commanded a company in the field, and his son, Amos, was an ensign; 
later an Assemblyman, Senator and Congressman, 1814-5. 

1777—Henry Deering, removed from “Crooked Hill”, near Pottstown, to what is now the west 
end of Witmer’s Bridge; there kept the old stone tavern, destroyed by fire some years ago. Over 
Deering’s ford and ferry passed troops, cattle, forage and army supplies continuously through 
the war. Tavern was a hospital after Paoli. Here Captain Vanhorn, of Virginia, suffering 
from a shattered limb, attacked by marauding ruffians, sought escape by leaping from a window 
and was killed by the fall. 

Old “Saw Buck” house, at Middle and East King Streets, erected in 1759 as barracks 
for Forbes’ troops returning from Ft. Pitt, used to confine British prisoners of war during the 
Revolution. The Colonial government powder house stores were at the southwest corner of N. 
Duke and E. James Sts. The barracks were at the northwest corner of Duke and Walnut Sts. 
(site of M. E. Church now) ; and the government stables were the brick row on the opposite 
side of Duke Street. 

Sept. 20—James Houston, son of John Houston, of Gap, killed in the Paoli massacre; his brothers, 
Daniel, John, William and Thomas, fought for the Colonies throughout the war. 


9 


i~ 78. June 1—General Hand, “famed for his splendid horsemanship", arrived at Ft. Pitt, with 
escort of militia light horse. He had a mixed garrison of regulars, independents and militia. 
He planned an expedition against the hostile Indians of the Northwest. Failure of popu¬ 
lar support and the controversy of Pennsylvania and Virginia over their boundary line, led 
him to relinquish his project. 

June 17—Hand addresses the Indians at F.t. Pitt and tells the wise Delawares and Shaw- 
anese “that before the waters are frozen there will not be an English soldier at Niagara or 
Detroit,” unless as prisoners. 

June 30—Hand writes from Ft. Pitt to Col. William Crawford that the “elopement" of the rene¬ 
gade, Simon Girty, two negroes and others compels abandonment of the French Creek ex¬ 
pedition. 

June 20-26—Council of Safety returns from Lancaster and Congress from York, to Philadelphia. 

July 4—Dr. David Ramsay—native of Drumore township, Lancaster County—made to the in¬ 
habitants of Charleston. S. C.. the first Independence Day oration ever delivered; surgeon in 
the army; member of the S. C. legislature; banished by the British to St. Augustine; member 
of the Continental Congress and president pro tern; historian of the Revolution and biograph¬ 
er of Washington; his books inspired Lincoln’s first study of history and of public men. 

1778—Henry Deering takes a town house. Paroled British officers and their wives lodged there ; 
elaborate dramatic representations given in his brew house. 

1778. Nov. 16—Washington acknowledged Hand’s “disagreeable account of the attack upon Col. 
Alden’s regiment at Cherry Valley”, and ordered Clinton’s regiments to Albany. 

Nov 20—Washington directed Clinton to consult Hand on his contemplated plans against the 
Indians and to protect the frontiers. 

1779, April 5—Hand sent Major Daniel Burchardt’s German regiment, 550 men. to Col. Zebulon 
Butler’s relief at Wyoming; warns them to cautiously examine every thicket and hollow they 
approach; and notifies Butler. 

Nov. 25—Hand at Hanover, N. J., moving to Morristown. 

1779. June—Sullivan's expedition rendezvoused at Sunbury to avenge the Wyoming massacre up¬ 
on the hostile Indians of N ew York. Hand’s Light Brigade, with the third company of the 
new nth regiment from Lancaster, constituted the van guard of the movement; marched by 
Wyoming to Tioga Point, thence to the destruction of the Seneca towns, the desolation of 
their fields and orchards and the massacre of the savages. 

1779. July 16—George Ross, Signer and now Judge of the Court of Admiralty, died suddenly oi 
gout, at his home in Lancaster. He lived in a house located where the Court House now 
stands, and his country home was in Rossmere, its site now marked by a memorial pillar. 
The window and door frames of the original city house are in the Lightner-Miller mansion, 
southeast of North Duke and Lemon Streets. He was the foremost civil personage in Lan¬ 
caster during the Revolutionary period. Son of Rev. Dr. George Ross (P. E.) and younger 
brother of John Ross, a distinguished Philadelphia lawyer; he settled in Lancaster in 1751. 
and married Ann Lawlor. He became king's prosecutor, assemblyman, 1768-74; drafted the 
Pennsylvania reply to the Virginia resolutions ; was in the Continental Congress, Sept. 1774 
Jan., 1777; signed the Declaration ; declined a tender of money and plate from his constitu¬ 
ents and was a foremost member of the Committee of Public Safety during the war. His 
son, James, was Lt. Col. in the Continental army, and died Aug. 12, 1809. a Territorial 
Judge in Louisanna. In a letter of July 25, 1779. to Col. James Burd, from Edward Burd, 
the writer says: “Geo. Ross, your friend is dead. He was very cheerful on his death bed; he 
said he was almost tired before he set off, but the place was cool and that there would be most 
excellent wines there and he should fare deliciously—that Mrs. Ross did not expect to see 
him so soon after her.” (She died on May 3, 1773.) His son, George Ross, was a staunch 
patriot and vice president of the Supreme Executive Council for some time. Anne, daughter 
of George Ross, 3d. became the wife of James Hopkins, the foremost lawyer of his day in 
Lancaster, and preceptor of James Buchanan. Mrs. D. G Eshleman was descended from 
Eliza Julianna, daughter of Geo. Ross 3d. 


10 


1 779 - Aug. 29 (Sunday). Decisive battle of Newtown. N. Y., fought; Hand’s riflemen support¬ 
ed by his brigade, in the front of the fight. Indian forces almost annihilated. Brant, their 
great captain, bravely bearing his part. “Remember Wyoming’s massacre” was the cry that 
stimulated the Pennsylvania troops to bloody vengeance on their weak foes, much inferior in 
number. No Revolutionary event so signalized by monuments and memorials as Sullivan's 
expedition. It returned to Wyoming. Oct. 

1779, Dec. 2—Nearly £5,000 paid to Francis Bailey, for printing for the Council of Pennsylvania. 
August 18 he had received an order for £5,000 drawn for army flour and about £13,000 Sept. 
2, 1780, for purchases made by him. He had a job printing office in a stone building on the 
Maxwell farm, Sadsbury township east of Gap, and printed much of the Continental cur¬ 
rency. He published the Pennsylvania State laws down to Governor Snyder’s administration. 

1780. March 13—Hand writes Pres. Reed, from Morristown, that “the army is deficient in the 
Article of Thred”—to mend the men’s “Cloths.” 

Dec.—Lancaster County directed to furnish 384 troops out of 2,700 able-bodied men to be raised. 
This made necessary because the policy of enlisting for short terms was changed, as it too 
often necessitated calling out of the undisciplined and incompetent militia. 

1780— Col. Samuel J. Atlee, of Pequea (who had been a lawyer and soldier in the French-Indian 
wars), after brilliant service in the field and long confinement on a prison ship, was made 
Lieutenant of Lancaster County; in 1783, Councillor; in 1786, Pennsylvania Commissioner 
to ratify the Indian treaty; 1782-5-6, Assemblyman. His brother, William Aug. Atlee was 
chairman of the Lancaster Committee of Safety; Judge of the Supreme Court, 1777-91 ; and 
subsequently Judge of the Chester, Lancaster, Dauphin and York district, until his death, 
September 9, 1793; ancestor of the family distinguished in law and medicine. 

Sept—Hand served as Member of the Court which condemned John Andre to death as a spy. 

1780. July 7—Hand arrests Commissary Aaron Norcross, at Camp Preakness, for “issuing rum” 
from the public stores. 

Sept. 17—Hand and bis Light Infantry ordered to be rear guard of a concerted movement near 
Tappan, N. Y. 

1781, Jan. 8—Gen. Hand called to Washington’s immediate aid and made Adjutant General of 
the American army. 

March 3—Prisoners of war gradually moved westward to York and elsewhere. John Miller, 
appointed Continental Commissioner of Purchases for Lancaster County, vice Christian 
Wirtz, suspended for graft and troublesomeness. Local disquietude for some months over 
daring plots of prisoners to escape and prevalent Southern fever among new arrivals. Capt. 
Andrew Lee, disguised as a spy, disclosed escape plot and obtained information upon which 
four Lancaster Countians were convicted of complicity. 

1781, May 23—Notice to those who joined the troop of Light Horse to meet June 18, at Cross 
Keys Tavern, Lancaster, to transact such business as should come before them. 

1781, June 29—Hand makes for Washington plan of review of Connecticut division and sham 
fight at Peekskill, N. J., to test the practicability of an attack on Manhattan Island. 

June 30—Hand angrily resents interference by Q. M. G. Pickering with the necessary pasture 
of his horses. 

1781, July 15-—Borough corporation and citizens of Lancaster memorialize the Supreme Execu¬ 
tive Council as to the perils and oppression of having 1,400 prisoners of war and conven¬ 
tion troops in town, exclusive of 600 women and children, with contagious disorders raging, 
the markets drained of food supplies and the popular feeling of insecurity and danger from 
insurrection and escapes. 

Oct. 19—Hand, Adjutant General to Washington, at Cornwallis’s surrender, Yorktown; 
returned with army to Philadelphia. 

1782, May 24—Hand with army in South, entered Savannah July 11; Charleston, December 14, 
and returned from James Island, S. C., on transports to Philadelphia, July, 1783. 

1782, June—John Musser’s house and merchandise in Lancaster seized on charge of clandestine 
traffic with British prisoners. 



1782, June—Gen. Hazen’s troops ordered from Lancaster to Fort Pitt, to operate against hostile 
Indians; then returned and received the thanks of a town meeting for their good behavior 
and efficient public protection while in Lancaster. 

1782, Aug. 7—Hand busily engaged at West Point. 

1783—Hand prepared elaborate plan for the establishment of the office of Inspector General 
U. S. A. Later in 1785, when in Congress, he prepared a schedule for garrisoning the 
Northwestern frontier, surrendered by the British. He also planned the establishment of 
the Adjutant General’s department for Washington. 

1782, Nov. 30—Peace with Great Britain concluded to take effect January 20. 1783. Troops re¬ 
fused pay, became mutinous, and June 18 about four score marched from Lancaster to Phila¬ 
delphia to obtain justice; joined by insurgents there; Congress defiant. Council conciliatory; 
mutineers marched back again. 

1783—Many Hessian prisoners released after the war, found employment in Lancaster County 
and settled permanently here. 

1783, May 10—Hereditary order of Cincinnati established by commissioned officers of Washing¬ 
ton’s army. Hand on the committee to institute it. 

1783, Sept. 3—Hand made Major General of Pennsylvania State troops; 1784-5 a Federalist 
Member of Continental Congress; 1785 elected to the House in the General Assembly of 
Pennsylvania. 

1789—Hand, a Lancaster County delegate to the first convention to amend the Pennsylvania Con¬ 
stitution. Presidential elector in college which elected Washington unanimously. 1791, 

March 21—Appointed by Washington Inspctor of Revenue for Pennsylvania. 

1794, May—Pennsylvania militia detachment of 10.768 called on to be ready to aid suppressing 
whiskey rebellion. Major General Hand's division comprised two brigades—the second 
made up of men from the County of York 822, County of Lancaster, 756: These troops 
were to be raised to help quell the whiskey insurrection. 

Sept—Mr. Ross was one of the Commissioners to restore peace at the conclusion and quelling of 
the whiskey insurrection. 

1794, Sept. 27—The Governor, Thomas Mifflin, ntending to go to Carlisle next day, expressed 

his satisfaction with the mark and appearance of the detachments of cavalry, artillery and 
infantry, which had reached the Borough of Lancaster. The Governor continuing says: 
“To the militia of Lancaster County in particular’’ returns his best wishes for the spirit and 
alacrity with which they are preparing to engage for a purpose “so interesting and so 
honest to freemen.” 

1798—Hand appointed Major General in the U S. Provisional Army. 

1798, July 3—Anticipating war with France, President John Adams appointed Ex-President 
Washington Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief “of all armies to be raised.” Wash¬ 
ington proposed an army organization in which Hand was his choice for Adjutant General. 

1802, Sept. 3—Hand died at Rockford (See Hand genealogy, page 3) and buried in the grave¬ 
yard of St. James P. E. church of which longtime he had been a member and vestryman. 


12 



ORDER OF EXERCISES 




PRESIDING OFFICER . B. C. ATLEE 

MARSHALL .... H. S. WILLIAMSON 
OVERTURE—“Morning, Noon and Night ”—Suppe . . IROQUOIS BAND 

INVOCATION.REV. L. S. MUDGE, D. D. 


CHORUS—“America”.SCHOOLCHILDREN 

Under Direction of Miss Margaret L. Humphreville 

ADDRESS—“ General Hand as a Churchman ” REV. GEORGE I. BROWNE 

SELECTION-“In the Shadows”.IROQUOIS BAND 

PAPER—“General Hand, the Citizen in Private Life” MISS MARTHA B. CLARK 

To be Read by D. F. Magee 


CHORUS—“ Our Country’s Flag ”— Shirley .... SCHOOLCHILDREN 
SELECTION—From the Operetta, “ The Spring Maid "—Reinhart IROQUOIS BAND 
ADDRESS—“ General Hand in the Sullivan Expedition” H. FRANK ESHLEMAN 
SELECTION—'“Songs of the Nation "-Lampe .... IROQUOIS BAND 

PRESENTATION OF TABLET.W. U. HENSEL 

ACCEPTANCE.HON. FRANK B. McCLAIN 

CHORUS—“ The American Hymn ”— Kellei . . SCHOOL CHILDREN 

MARCH-“ Williamson Park "-Ad. Stork .IROQUOIS BAND 

UNVEILING OF THE TABLET 


BENEDICTION.REV. A. F. KAUL 

CHORUS—“Star. Spangled Banner ”.SCHOOLCHILDREN 


13 





SONGS 




AMERICA. 

My country, ’tis of thee, 
Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing; 

Land where my fathers died, 
Land of the pilgrims’ pride, 
From ev’ry mountain side 
Let freedom ring! 

My native country thee. 

Land of the noble free, 

Thy name I love; 

I love thy rock and rills, 

Thy woods and templed hills; 
My heart with rapture thrills 
Like that above. 

Let music swell the breeze, 
And ring from all the trees. 
Sweet freedom’s song; 

Let mortal tongues awake; 

Let all that breathe partake; 
Let rocks their silence break, 
The sound prolong. 

Our fathers’ God, to thee, 
Author of liberty, 

To thee we sing: 

Long may our land be bright 
With freedom’s holy light; 
Protect us by thy might, 

Great God, our King! 


OUR COUNTRY’S FLAG. 

When Orphens struck the chords of music rare. 

Of wondrous harmony divine. 

Sweet Lyra was his golden harp so fair. 

In azure blue her stars did shine; 

Just as they shine in freedom’s flag to-day, 

The symbol of our union staunch and true; 

A twinkling cluster set in bright array, 

Their onward course pursue. 

Chorus. 

Then wave and float o’er sea and shore, 

Thou starry emblem of the free; 

I pledge allegiance evermore, 

My Country’s flag to thee. 


Forever may thy streaming radiant light, 

O’er all the earth in splendor gleam; 

And side by side thy stripes of red and white, 
With mingled rays in beauty stream: 

The red that speaks of courage to defy 
All foes of country, home and unity; 

The white for purity, and aim so high, 

The blue fidelity. 

Chorus. 


THE AMERICAN HYMN. 

Speed our Republic, O Father on high! 

Lead us in pathways of justice and right; 
Rulers, as well as the ruled, “One and all,” 
Girdle with virtue the armor of might! 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 

Rulers, as well as the ruled, “One and all,” 
Girdle with virtue the armor of might! 

Hail, three times to our country and flag! 

Foremost in battle for freedom to stand, 

We rush to arms when aroused by its call; 
Still as of yore, when George Washington led, 
Thunders our war cry: We conquer or fall! 
Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 

Still as of yore, when George Washington led. 
Thunders our war cry: We conquer or fall! 
Hail, three times hail to our country and flag! 


STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. 

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light. 

What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last 
gleaming, 

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the 
perilous fight, 

O’er the ramparts’ we watch’d, were so gal¬ 
lantly streaming? 

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting 
in air, 

Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was 
still there. 

Chorus. 

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave 

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 






Meadia Hill, a long stretch of high ground on 
the south bank of the Conestoga, between Engle- 
side and the old Reigart’s Landing, takes its name 
from a rare and beautiful plant of the primrose 
family that is found here. The flora of Lancas¬ 
ter county is rich and varied and the banks of the 
Conestoga have, since the daya of Muhlenberg, 
had their charm for the botanist. The “Meadia,” 
the name by which it is commonly known here, 
is seldom found in Pennsylvania. There seems 
to be not more than two or three localities of 
small extent in Lancaster county where it grows. 
The name of the genus to which the plant belongs 
is Dodecatheon (twelve gods), “a fanciful name 
from the Greeks,” as Gray says of it. There is 
but one species, which it named in honor of Meade, 
and this, as a Latin adjective, becomes a word 
of four syllables, though in English we make it 
but three, using the adjective as a noun. Other 
names for it are the American Cowslip, the Shoot¬ 
ing Star, and the Pride of Ohio. 

— Dr. J. P. McCaskey. 


15 



For the Wild Columbine (Aquilegia Canaden¬ 
sis) of the crowfoot family, there was no place 
within many miles to be compared with Indian 
Rock. It was the wonder plant of that well-known 
locality in the late spring and early summer, with 
its large nodding flowers, pink sepals, pink, spurr¬ 
ed petals of unusual form, and heart of gold. It 
is more showy and more beautiful than the Meadia. 
One of my most delightful schoolboy recollections 
of sixty and more years ago is clambering about 
over this great rock on early June mornings, to 
gather from its clefts, wet with dew, the finest 
bloom and the freshest, for the desk of that rare 
teacher of botany, one of the most inspiring 
lovers of nature I have ever known, who taught 
on the Duke Street hill in those far-off days, 
Howard Worcester Gilbert. 


— Dr. J. P. McCaskey. 



16 



CELEBRATION AT “INDIAN ROCK,” WILLIAMSON PARK, ON THE 
CONESTOGA, NEAR “ ROCKFORD,” LANCASTER, PA., 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1912, 2 P. M. 

Lancaster County in the Revolution of 1776 

Historical Celebration and Erection of a Memorial to General Edward Hand , of Lancaster , Pa., 
Adjutant to and Friend of George Washington , Commander-in-Chief and to all the 
Sons of Lancaster County who fought in the Revolutionary War 

Lancaster County Historical Society 

vs 


OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY 


President 

Vice-Presidents 

Secretary 

Corresponding Secretary 

Treasurer 

Librarian 


George Steinman 
) F. R. Diffenderffer, Litt.D. 

I W. U. Hensel, LL. D., Litt.D. 

Charles B. Hollinger 
Miss Martha B. Clark 
A. K. Hostetter 
Miss Lottie M. Bausman 


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 


A. K. Hostetter 
W. U. Hensel 
D. F. Magee 
Geo. F. K. Erisman 
D. B. Landis 
H. Frank Eshlejvian 

Mrs. M. 


Monroe B. Hirsh 
Dr. R. K. Buehrle 
Mrs. Sarah B. Carpenter 
Miss Lottie M. Bausman 
L. B. Herr 
John L. Summy 
N. Robinson 


COMMITTEE ON HAND CELEBRATION 


W. U. HENSEL .... 

H. FRANK ESHLEMAN 

B. C. ATLEE .... 

J. GUY ESHLEMAN 

MISS MARGIE L. HUMPHREVILLE 


Chairman 

Secretary 

7'reasurer 

Clerk , Box j j, Lancaster , Pa. 

Musical Director 


Geo. Steinman 
F. R. Diffenderffer 
H. S. Williamson 
Dr. J. P. McCaskey 
W. H. Guthrie 
R. M. Reilly 
W. N. Appel 
H. Wood Flinn 
Dr. R. K. Buehrle 
Hon. F. B. McClain 


Prof. H. M. J. Klein 

D. F. Magee 

D. B. Landis 

Chas. B. Hollinger 

Monroe B. Hirsh 

A. K. Hostetter 

L. B. Herr 

Mrs. M. N. Robinson 

Mrs. Sarah B. Carpenter 

Miss Martha B. Clark 


Miss Lottie M. Bausman 



THE HOME OF GENERAL HAND 


“ ROCKFORD,” ON THE 
PENNSYLVANIA, 


CONESTOGA RIVER, NEAR LANCASTER, 
IN WEST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP 



“ Rockford,” where General Hand lived during his civil, his professional and his military career, and where he 
died, is an estate located in West Lampeter Township, near the southeastern wards of Lancaster, below what has been 
known as the “ Old Factory” (first silk, then woolen and later cork), on the left and lower bank of the Conestoga river, 
and on a bluff overlooking the water, reached by a narrow and picturesque public road. “Williamson Park,” a tract 
of nearly seventy acres, the munificent gift of Henry S. Williamson to the City of Lancaster, adjoins it and includes 
“ Indian Rock,” on which the Hand tablet has been fastened—its perpetual protection being thus secured. 

Hand’s heirs conveyed this tract, by a deed dated July 14, 1810, recorded February 6, 1813 (Book No. 4, page 571), 
for £5,000 to William Montgomery. There is no recorded conveyance “out” from him, no sheriff's deed or testa¬ 
mentary disposition of the property. It seems from the recitals of a later deed to Christian Kieffer—one time Mayor 
of Lancaster—that Montgomery died intestate and his other children agreed to vest the title in part in their niece. 
Fidelia R. VanDyke, then wife of Daniel R. Hasluck. She transferred, April 1, 1846, by her trustee, John L. Atlee, 
M. D., to Hon. Christian Kieffer, for $9,605.23, the tract then containing 139 % acres. He, in turn, conveyed to 
Meshach Rockafield, who conveyed to James Evans. His will carried it to his nephew, Robert A., and his executoi 
sold it to the present owner, George F. Kindig. The area of the estate has continued at about 140 acres, and through 
all these changes of ownership its value has been rated at, approximately. $10,000. 

Hand’s signature, clearly cut on the window pane with a diamond ring setting, is plainly visible; and the deep 
crimson stains of young John Hand’s tragic death have been pointed out for years to curious visitors. 


L. B. Herr Print, Lancaster, Pa. 





